In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics(based on biblical principles)in the public schools.They where invited to teach at prisons, bussinesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.
About 100 boys and girls, who had been abandoned,abused, and left in the care of a goverment-run program were in the orphanage. They relate the following story in their own Words:
It was nearing the holodays season,1994, time for our orhans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff set in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper squeare, cut from yellog napkins I had brought with me.No colored paper was abailable in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.Small squeres of Glannel[cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia],were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby cas cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to none table where little Misha sat. He looked to be 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, was starteled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this competed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who had only herd the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accuretly-until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.THen Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said,"And Mary laid the baby in the manger,Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't Have a place to stay.Then Jesus told me I could stay with him.But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I tought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift. "So I asked Jesus,'If I keep you warm , will that be a good enough gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep me warm!That will be the best gift anybody ever gave Me! "So, I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him-for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and soobed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him-for always!
And the Americans? They had learned the lesson they had come there to teach-that it is not what you have in your life, but Who you have in your life that really counts. We should give thanks for the people that really "keep us warm" in life; and for all God's many blessings to us: freedom from want, life, love, togetherness, and for the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm and safe always.
One cry......awakened the world
One birth......changed history
One Life......made all the difference
